The Orix Buffaloes announced today that they agreed to terms withBobby Scales. The contract runs through to the end of the season and will be worth an estimated 20M yen plus bonuses. He was also assigned the number four.

According to Sports Hochi Osaka, the Orix Buffaloes signed thirty-four-year-old Bobby Scales to a one-year deal worth an estimated 20M yen. They also assigned him the number four. Scales could join the Ichi-gun roster as early as May 25 (vs Hiroshima).

The Buffaloes like Scales because he can play both the infield and the outfield and can bat from either side of the plate.

Scales signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on in January before moving on to the New York Mets in April. ESPN's Adam Rubin tweeted on May 13 that Scales was leaving the Mets to play in Japan.

Nikkan Sports reports that the Fighters announced earlier today that they signed Brian Wolfe and Bobby Keppel to contract extensions for the 2012 season.

Sponichi says that Keppel Wolf will return next year and that the Fighters will exercise Micah Hoffpauir's team option for the 2012. Regarding Bobby Scales, they feel he won't be returning.

And Daily Sports reports that Wolfe and Keppel will return while Hoffpauir and Scales will likely be gone.

UPDATE @ 11:34am - Nikkan Sports is now also reporting that Scales won't be returning next year. The reasons they list: Kensuke Tanaka is now healthy, his drop-off in production towards the end of the season due to pitchers making adjustments, and concerns about his defense. As for Hoffpauir, they're saying he signed a 2-year deal before the start of the season and will therefore return in 2012.